Minnesota Public Radio Stories

• Obama campaign targets seniors
  Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's Minnesota campaign is trying to boost Obama's standing among a key group of voters--senior citizens.5:20 p.m.
• State says PFC contamination is stabilized in east metro
  A special committee of the Minnesota legislature got an update today on the cleanup of leaking landfills where 3M once disposed of industrial waste.5:24 p.m.
• Minnesota's unemployment rate jumps to highest in over two decades
  Minnesota's unemployment rate jumped to the highest level in 22 years last month and it doesn't look like the picture will get much better anytime soon.5:50 p.m.
• MPR Economic Lookouts aren't surprised by high unemployment numbers
  All Things Considered checked in with two of MPR's Economic Lookouts -- one on the Iron Range and one in west-central Minnesota -- about how the higest jobless rate in 22 years is affecting their cornor of the state.5:53 p.m.
• Little House team looks for a slow route to Broadway
  It's opening weekend for "Little House on the Prairie - the musical" at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. The show broke box office sales records for the Guthrie and its run has already been extended by two weeks. There's also talk about the show being Broadway-bound. But the Little House creative team wants to take it slow.6:20 p.m.

National Public Radio Stories

• Wake Up, Neo
  A lot of people constantly check their e-mail accounts. They also check if anybody has commented on their blogs and check for text messages. But messages are usually disappointing and mundane.
• IRS Taxes Personal Calls On Work Cell Phones
  If you're among the people who make personal calls on a company mobile phone, the Internal Revenue Service may want to talk with you. The IRS considers such cell phone calls to be a taxable extension of your compensation package.
• Olympian Jones Discusses Race, Work
  On Sunday in Beijing, the U.S. men smashed the 4x100 Relay World Record by 3.99 seconds. Cullen Jones swam the third leg of the race. He says he was shaking and cheering during the last leg when Jason Lezak set the record in the 400-meter freestyle relay.
• NOAA Retires Last Wooden Research Ship
  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has retired its last wooden research ship. The John N. Cobb was decommissioned Wednesday after 58 years of service. Bill Lamoureux, who served as the ship's chief steward, recounts his memories.
• Debut Fiction From Asia Hits Mark
  Tan Twan Eng's debut novel is The Gift of Rain, set in Malaysia. Mosquito by Roma Tearne is set in Sri Lanka. Though they may seem exotic, the books carry us with deep familiarity into war and the hot worrisome weather of life.
• Charter Schools Bloom In New Orleans
  Since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has become a laboratory of sorts for charter schools. Seven new ones are opening this month — supported by millions of dollars in federal and private grants. The funding draws educators like Channa Cook to New Orleans.
• Georgians Targeted In South Ossetia
  There are reports of human rights abuses in areas of Georgia under Russian military control. Human Rights Watch says members of the South Ossetia militia have burned and looted homes in Georgian villages.
• Unabomber Complains About Newseum Exhibit
  Convicted Unabomber Ted Kaczynski has complained to a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals about the use of his cabin in a Newseum exhibit. It is part of an exhibit called "G-Men and Journalists: Top News Stories of the FBI's First Century."
• Russia Prevents Georgians From Entering Key Town
  Russia said the Georgian military won't be allowed into the key town of Gori. When the Georgians tried, it almost turned into a firefight before the Georgians pulled back. Ethnic Ossetian fighters have also been active in the area, adding to the tensions.
• Springfield, Ill., Marks Centenary Of Riots
  Springfield, Ill., commemorates the centenary of the Aug. 14-15 race riot of 1908. A white mob torched dozens of black-owned businesses and homes over two days of rioting. Two black men were killed and seven people died during the rioting.
• Letters: Candidates' Wives, Dolphin Kick
  Listeners respond to the profiles this week of the wives of the presidential candidates. They also sounded off on yesterday's story about what one commentator called Michael Phelps' "most dangerous weapon" — the dolphin kick.
• Clinton To Get Convention Roll Call
  Sen. Hillary Clinton's name will be placed in nomination along with Barack Obama's at the Democratic convention in Denver. Democrats will officially nominate Obama at the convention but state delegations will do a roll call for Clinton, too. Marc Ambinder, reporter and blogger for the Atlantic, offers his insight.
• Estonian President: Russia's Intentions Laid Bare
  Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and other leaders of former Soviet republics gathered recently in Georgia to show solidarity with that country's leader. Ilves says the conflict has laid to rest the post-Soviet belief that Russia won't attack any other country.
• U.S. Toughens Rhetoric On Russia-Georgia Conflict
  U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will ask Georgia to sign a ceasefire agreement negotiated by France's President Nicolas Sarkosy when she heads to Tiblisi Friday. She has toughened her rhetoric toward Russia, but the plan appears to make concessions to Russia.
• With Convention Speeches, It's All In The Timing
  Barack Obama's acceptance speech is set for Aug. 28, the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. Hillary Clinton's speech on Aug. 26 falls on the 88th anniversary of women getting the right to vote. Bill Clinton's falls on the anniversary of Krakatoa's eruption.

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